Almost half of couples will fantasise about better sex with their ex this Valentine's Day

NAUGHTY BUT NICE: Nearly half of us fantasise about former partners in bed [ALAMY]

Four out of ten people say they had better sex with their first ­partner than their current one.

And 21% admit to still having sexy thoughts about an ex when they are in bed with their loved one.

Sex and relationship expert ­Annabelle Knight said: “It is not ­unusual for a man or a woman to ­fantasise about sex with an ex while being intimate.

“But it doesn’t necessarily mean they want to do it for real. Our minds wander all the time and everyone stores memories of previous sexual encounters somewhere in their brain.

“This doesn’t mean they are ­dissatisfied with their current lover, it just means they cherish what were probably very special moments in their past.”

A recent survey shows 31% of men claim to be holding a torch for an ex, compared to 27% of women.

Half of women say they have been contacted by a previous ­boyfriend but had ignored them but the same thing has ­ happened to just 28% of men.

Annabelle, inset, said: “Men are much more likely to ­contact a former lover ­directly.

“They also reminisce more fondly about their ex-lovers than women.

“I think we can safely say these two findings are ­connected. Men are much keener on having sex again with their first love than women.”

The findings also show one in six has slept with a previous partner after breaking up.

“But it doesn’t necessarily mean they want to do it for real. Our minds wander all the time and everyone stores memories of previous sexual encounters somewhere in their brain”

Sex and relationship expert ­Annabelle Knight

But Annabelle warned people not to look at exes with rose-tinted glasses.

She said: “Sex with your first love is always going to be ­special to most people and it is not surprising that many still reminisce about it when they are with a new partner.

“But it can be dangerous revisiting old ground. Time changes us and what made it ­special the first time may no longer apply.

“The chances are you split up with your first love for a very good ­reason and the same problems will occur if you go back to the relationship.

“We change as lovers too as we get older and gain more ­experience and knowledge.

“Someone who seemed like the best lover in the world when you were an impressionable 18-year-old might have lost a bit of their gloss ten years later.

“There is that saying ‘never go back’ and in most cases it is very sound advice.”

The results were ­revealed in a survey of 1,000 people by online sex retailer Lovehoney which looked at how our first loves impact on our later relationships.

It also found many love-struck Brits were secretly spying on past loves on Facebook and Twitter.

A staggering 64% of us have searched for pictures and updates on ex-partners online. And more than a quarter have got back in touch using social media.

Annabelle added: “Anyone’s first love will have a profound effect on their lives.

“With so many people on social media it is far easier to secretly track how they are getting on.

“It is not surprising that most people have done this.”

The findings also show that 42% of people discuss past partners in their current relationship.

Whereas 45% of women freely chat about their exes, just 38% of men do the same. Annabelle said: “The survey shows clearly that women are far keener than men to talk about their experiences with previous lovers.

“I think this is because they want to make sure they don’t repeat previous mistakes.